tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725594071580884964.post9034776148437145858..comments2024-03-19T04:06:18.999-04:00Comments on survive the journey: Guest Post: The Other Side of Cushing's -- The CaregiversRobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910816445824791436noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725594071580884964.post-35582920987717622092011-10-03T05:50:24.917-04:002011-10-03T05:50:24.917-04:00EVERYONE stands the chance Of passing some illness...EVERYONE stands the chance Of passing some illness or defect to your kids.<br /><br />So, should everyone with diabetes or cushings or depression or some hoistory of MS or autiam in their families never have kids? What about a family history of cancer? If only healthy people with healthy flawless family histories had kids, NO ONE could have kids. This isn't like having AIDS and knowing your kid will definietely have it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725594071580884964.post-11064877908645909502011-04-17T02:05:42.499-04:002011-04-17T02:05:42.499-04:00Most people are told that Cushing's is usually...Most people are told that Cushing's is usually not genetic, so they probably don't think there is much risk of passing it on to their children. Even if it is sometimes genetic, the chance that one person's case is genetic, and that they will pass it on, may be relatively small. <br /><br />I am just starting my testing for Cushing's, but I look at my mom and my aunt (her sister) and am convinced that they have it too. My aunt especially looks like a poster-child for Cushing's, and has had many health problems such as her lower back bones fusing together. Their father died after horrible diabetes that led to double amputation, kidney failure, and finally a heart attack. <br /><br />Now, if Cushing's does indeed run in my family, it does not seem to cause severe symptoms until later in life. While I have had some problems since my teens (weight gain, frequent infections, increasing irritability), many of the more annoying symptoms (severe joint pain, memory problems) did not develop until my late 20s. This is similar to my aunt, while my mom didn't have much problems until her 40s or 50s.<br /><br />I can understand Judy's point. I dread potentially having the medical issues that my aunt has had, (even before I knew about Cushing's). I guess from this perspective it is good that I am an only child, and my aunt never had kids because of endometriosis. But I still want to have kids, because they are likely to be adults before any problems develop. If they know that they are at risk for Cushing's, then they can have testing and treatment if and when they get any symptoms. Maybe it is not that simple, but it seems like Cushing's is not a death sentence and is treatable if diagnosed early enough. But everyone is different, so who knows what the future holds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725594071580884964.post-20206996772000280182011-03-26T02:34:16.570-04:002011-03-26T02:34:16.570-04:00I'm not offended at all. I totally get Judy...I'm not offended at all. I totally get Judy's perspective. I'm sitting here with 5 children, and so far, the oldest 2 testing positive for Cushing's. Had I known what was wrong with me, years ago, I would have stopped at one child, if I even had that one. Don't get me wrong. I love my children. It's just heart wrenching to see them go through this, and there is guilt! Even though I didn't know I had Cushing's (I did know something was wrong, but docs said no), I still feel responsible for passing this on to them. <br /><br />I'm not dreaming of whether my children will get the best grades, scholarships, great jobs. I'm worried about my kids being able to just graduate, then I wonder how they are going to physically manage "making it" in life! Will they be able to hold down jobs? I can't and I'm suppose to be cured. From my perspective, their futures look fairly bleak. It's one thing to be half way through your life and have to deal with this, but for them to have it so young, and look at an entire lifetime of sickness/disability is another story. Watching your child suffer with the flu is bad enough. Watching them suffer with a disease that is hard to diagnose, watching their bodies be destroyed, and you have no real control over any of it is just beyond what any words can express! <br /><br />I had a hard time getting pregnant, and I know the frustration that comes with the unwanted menstrual cycle each month when you want a baby so badly! I've been there and done that! When you are in that position it's hard to have a different perspective. Now I'm sitting on the other side. Sitting with guilt, worry, frustration, and grief. <br /><br />Having a child is each person's choice. I've never told my children that they shouldn't have any, so they don't pass this on. Even so, they are already saying they will probably adopt, and if they have any biological children, it will probably be just one. They don't want to watch their children go through what they are going through, and what they have watched me go through!Graciehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15388695255434614905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725594071580884964.post-36828368795779361192011-03-22T13:44:03.350-04:002011-03-22T13:44:03.350-04:00We don't really know whether most cases are ge...We don't really know whether most cases are genetic or not. I see many families with several members that look Cushie. Some have a family member that has a dx and some are just families I see around town.<br />I think the difference between Cushing's & other diseases is that Cushing's affects so many (all) systems in the body.judycolbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03178633666261662585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8725594071580884964.post-84580448758930601592011-03-06T01:19:31.484-05:002011-03-06T01:19:31.484-05:00I have Cushing's, and while I understand where...I have Cushing's, and while I understand where this mother is coming from, I don't agree. While a few cases of Cushing's may be genetic, MOST are NOT. I can't help it - for a number of reasons, I really am offended by this post. There may also be a genetic component to rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, depression etc, etc. Should people with a history of these diseases also deny themselves the privilege of becoming biological parents? I have nothing against adoption, and I am hoping that my husband and I can adopt one day. But seriously, the judgemental tone of this post really bothers me. This is not a one-size-fits-all disease.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com